Past Events - Tara Setmayer

Virtual Discussion Series with

Tara Setmayer

On April 29, 2020 Leaders in Lowell was joined by Tara Setmayer, a CNN Political Contributor and host of political podcast “Honestly Speaking”. Tara discussed her 25 year political career which has included working as Congressman Dana Rorbacher’s Communication Director, leading the charge to get two wrongly convicted Border Patrol agents sentence’s commuted, and working as a political commentator with numerous media organizations. Tara spoke on the current state of the political world and Republican Party under Donald Trump and how the party has strayed from true Conservatism. She also discussed her wish to see a return to the pre-Trump GOP when true conservative values and character were important. Her insightful commentary on everything from COVID-19 to criminal justice reform, Donald Trump, the media and more is timely, interesting, and important.

This event was held virtually as a part of Leaders in Lowell's new "Virtual Discussion Series". This series is being held online as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

About Tara

From Tara'sHarvard IOP Bio:
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"Tara Setmayer is a CNN Political Commentator, ABC News Political Contributor, and former GOP communications director on Capitol Hill. She is currently the host of the "Honestly Speaking with Tara" podcast. Tara regularly appears on CNN's prime time programs and contributes to ABC's The View, Good Morning America, and Nightline. She's also made numerous

appearances on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Prior to joining ABC, Tara became a household name for her no-nonsense commentary as a CNN political commentator during the 2016 presidential election cycle where Vulture.com recognized her as one of 2016's "Top 20 Election Coverage Stars" on TV. In 2017, Tara was named as a Board Director for Stand Up Republic, a non profit organization formed in the wake of the 2016 election of Donald Trump to unite Americans behind the defense of democratic norms, ideals and institutions.
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"Tara's also written for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, and CNN.com and has guest-hosted on SiriusXM's Patriot and POTUS channels.
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"During her time as a senior congressional staffer, Tara successfully led the national effort to free unjustly imprisoned Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean through a presidential commutation issued by President George W. Bush on his last working day in office. In addition to her communications duties, Setmayer handled policy issues on immigration and federal law enforcement.
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"For over two years, Setmayer served as a community liaison advocating on a variety of issues including affordable housing and services for the chronically homeless in South Florida where she co-founded a faith-based homeless program with her mother." - Harvard IOP